Racial Discrimination: Education Officials Investigate Racism Against Black Students In Wake County Schools

Racism in the U.S. has been reduced over the past few decades but it still exists in many parts of the country, even in schools. A group of African-American activists, parents and students expressed their complaints to education officials about Wake County schools' racial discrimination against black students.

The complaints emphasize the abuse, aggression and unfair discipline that black students receive from students and school personnel, the News & Observer reports. U.S. Department of Education Office of Civil Rights officials have already started to investigate the Wake County school system's alleged racial discrimination against black students.

"The only thing I want for my babies is to get a proper education," Cecilia Glenn, an African-American parent, said via the News & Observer. "Why should it be so hard to do that?"

Wake County school officials sent a written statement for federal education officials to deny the level of racial discrimination against black students being complained about by African-American parents, students and activists. "About 90 percent of our African-American students are never suspended during their school careers," the school district explained.

Wake County school officials also invited federal education officials to visit their schools in order to check for signs of racial discrimination against black students. They also noted that they use suspensions very sparingly nowadays and find other alternatives for discipline instead.

But despite the decrease in total number suspensions for black students, the fact remains that there is a big disparity between the suspension rate of African-American students and other racial groups, Advocates For Children's Services attorney Jennifer Story noted via the News and Observer. One study also claims that many teachers are more likely to label African-American students as troublemakers, the Daily Mail reports.